Transmission system, transmission apparatus, and transmission method for transmitting video data

Abstract

An HDMI(R) source determines whether or not an HDMI(R) sink can receive a sub-signal based on VSDB of E-EDID. When the HDMI(R) sink can receive the sub-signal, the HDMI(R) source adds a sub-signal to pixel data of a main image composed of pixel data whose number of bits is smaller than that of transmission pixel data transmitted by a transmitter, thereby constructing transmission pixel data. This data is transmitted by the transmitter through TMDS channels # 0 to # 2 . Furthermore, the HDMI(R) source transmits a general control packet containing sub-signal information indicating whether or not the sub-signal is contained in the transmission pixel data in the control period of a vertical blanking period. The present invention can be applied to, for example, HDMI(R).

1. A transmission system, comprising:
 a source-side apparatus for transmitting data using a transmission scheme in which data is transmitted in units of 8 bits, the units corresponding to the clock periods of a pixel clock; and 
 a sink-side apparatus; 
 wherein the source-side apparatus includes:
 a video data generator configured to generate video data such that the number of bits representing any component of color data or luminance and color-difference data of any one pixel is a predetermined number that is not an integer multiple of 8 bits, 
 a transmission data arrangement section configured to arrange the video data generated by the video data generator within the units of 8 bits of the transmission scheme by first inserting, between the bits representing a given pixel of a given component of the generated video data and the bits representing a next pixel of the given component of the generated video data, a respective number of bits of data differing from the generated video data such that a first integer multiple of a sum of the predetermined number of bits and the respective number bits equals a second integer multiple of 8, and then dividing the generated video data and the inserted data among the units of 8 bits, and 
 a sending section configured to send the generated video data and the inserted data arranged in units of 8 bits each by the transmission data arrangement section over individual transmission lines for each component of the color data or the luminance and color-difference data in synchronization with the pixel clock; and 
 
 wherein the sink-side apparatus includes:
 a receiver configured to detect the sent data sent by sending section over the transmission lines in units of 8 bits in synchronization with the pixel clock, and 
 a data separator configured to separate the generated video data of the predetermined number of bits and the inserted data from the received data in units of 8 bits received by the receiver. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The transmission system according to  claim 1 , wherein the source-side apparatus comprises an encryptor configured to encrypt the generated video data and the inserted data arranged by the transmission data arrangement section in units of 8 bits prior to being sent by the sending section, and the sink-side apparatus comprises a decryptor configured to decrypt the received data received by the receiver in units of 8 bits prior to being separated by the data separator. 
     
     
       3. A transmission method for transmitting data using a transmission scheme in which data is transmitted in units of 8 bits, the units corresponding to the clock periods of pixel clock, the transmission method comprising:
 generating video data to be transmitted such that the number of bits representing any component of color data or luminance and color-difference data of any one pixel is a predetermined number of bits that is not an integer multiple of 8 bits; 
 arranging the generated video data of the predetermined number of bits within the units of 8 bits of the transmission scheme by first inserting, between the bits representing a given pixel of a given component of the generated video data and the bits representing a next pixel of the given component of the generated video data, a respective number of bits of data differing from the generated video data such that a first integer multiple of a sum of the predetermined number of bits and the respective number bits equals a second integer multiple of 8, and then dividing the generated video data and the inserted data among the units of 8 bits; and 
 transmitting the generated video data and the inserted data arranged in units of 8 bits each by the transmission data arrangement section over individual transmission lines for each component of the color data or the luminance and color-difference data from a source-side apparatus to a sink-side apparatus in synchronization with the pixel clock. 
 
     
     
       4. A transmission apparatus for transmitting data using a transmission scheme in which data is transmitted in units of 8 bits, the units corresponding to the clock periods of pixel clock, the transmission apparatus comprising:
 a video data generator configured to generate video data such that the number of bits representing any component of color data or luminance and color-difference data of any one pixel is a predetermined number that is not an integer multiple of 8 bits; 
 a transmission data arrangement section configured to arrange the video data generated by the video data generator within the units of 8 bits of the transmission scheme by first inserting, between the bits representing a given pixel of a given component of the generated video data and the bits representing a next pixel of the given component of the generated video data, a respective number of bits of data differing from the generated video data such that a first integer multiple of a sum of the predetermined number of bits and the respective number bits equals a second integer multiple of 8, and then dividing the generated video data and the inserted data among the units of 8 bits; and 
 a sending section configured to send the generated video data and the inserted data arranged in units of 8 bits each by the transmission data arrangement section over individual transmission lines for each component of the color data or the luminance and color-difference data in synchronization with the pixel clock. 
 
     
     
       5. The transmission apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising an encryptor configured to encrypt generated video data and the inserted data arranged by the transmission data arrangement section in units of 8 bits prior to being sent by the sending section.